An icon of everyday life

BRIDGE AS BRAND

Published 4:00 am, Sunday, May 20, 2012

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Golden Gate Bridge magnets, 4 for $10, at Digital Photo Center on Grant Avenue in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

Golden Gate Bridge magnets, 4 for $10, at Digital Photo Center on Grant Avenue in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Snow globes at Walgreens in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

Snow globes at Walgreens in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Gateway Bank on Clement Street in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

Gateway Bank on Clement Street in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Hell or High Watermelon beer from San Francisco's 21st Amendment Brewery - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

Hell or High Watermelon beer from San Francisco's 21st Amendment Brewery - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Art Zhao spruces up the Golden Gate Bridge float for Carnaval celebration in San Francisco, Calf. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

Art Zhao spruces up the Golden Gate Bridge float for Carnaval celebration in San Francisco, Calf. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Parking lot mural on 5th Street in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

Parking lot mural on 5th Street in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Golden Gate Church of Christ on 8th Avenue in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

Golden Gate Church of Christ on 8th Avenue in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Sandwiches at Golden Gate Market in Sausalito, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

Sandwiches at Golden Gate Market in Sausalito, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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Golden Gate t-shirts at Crazy Shirts in Sausalito, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

Golden Gate t-shirts at Crazy Shirts in Sausalito, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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A bridge centric mural outside the Stop & Shop Market on 26th and Mission Street in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San Francisco bay area businesses it has come to represent an undeniable marketing strategy. Images of orange towers grace beer cans and billboards. The simple words "golden" and "gate" precede more than a few store front signs. The power of the bridge is undeniable. less

A bridge centric mural outside the Stop & Shop Market on 26th and Mission Street in San Francisco, Calif. - In the 75 yeas since it completion the Golden Gate Bridge has become an icon to the world. For the San ... more

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

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An icon of everyday life

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In San Francisco, and in places far beyond, the Golden Gate Bridge is ubiquitous. Even if you've never actually seen it, you've seen it in some other form. It's the bridge that launched a hundred thousand replicas.

The city alone has more than 130 businesses and institutions that share the name Golden Gate, many with a bridge logo. There are mini-Golden Gates at Disney and Legoland theme parks, among other places. It's in murals in Rincon Annex and in SoMa.

It's on key chains and magnets and snow globes and soda cans and coasters and ... well, you get the picture. Here's a souvenir of bridge souvenirs.

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